Explanatory Theory Research Articles

Data Driven Framework with Graphical User Interface for Predicting Flexural Behavior of FRCM Strengthened RC Beams

In this study, the flexural capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with fiber-reinforced cementitious matrices (FRCM) was computed using machine learning (ML) algorithms including: (i) adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), (ii) artificial neural network (ANN), and (iii) extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). A total of 198 pertinent experimental datasets were compiled and included six types of FRCM composites (PBO, carbon, glass, basalt, coated carbon, and combined glass and carbon). The considered input parameters comprise the beam cross-sectional details, area of tensile and compressive steel reinforcement, mechanical properties of FRCM composite, and concrete compressive strength. To assess the reliability of ML models, four existing analytical models and one established standard guideline were used for comparison. Moreover, six statistical metrics were employed, along with an overfitting analysis, to determine the best-fitting model. Graphical fitting of the optimal model was depicted using the Taylor diagram, violin plot, as well as multi-panel histogram plot. Based on both graphical and statistical metrics, the XGBoost model attained the highest precision compared to all analytical and ML-based models. The correlation coefficient and MAPE of the XGBoost model were 0.9977 and 2.98%, respectively. To interpret the influence of individual parameters on the flexural strength of the FRCM-strengthened RC beams, a feature importance plot based on SHAP explanatory theory was deployed. Ultimately, a user-friendly graphical interface was developed and made accessible to aid practicing engineers in estimating the flexural strength of FRCM-strengthened RC beams, offering an effective alternative to complex design procedures.

Explanations of Theory and Performance of Support Vector Machine

Hitherto, data points are extremely popular in many difference branches of natural science. For this purpose, this is a mathematical article mainly focuses on how to separate or categorize data points efficiently based on their characteristics. The methods are the following. For the linear separable data, the most fundamental Support Vector Machine(SVM) model can be used, while for non-linear separable data, the slack variables and kernel tricks are two efficient techniques. To test whether there is a significant difference among kernels, two kernels, the Gaussian and polynomial kernels, are chosen. The results for those two are quite alike (used a group of data of iris to showcase this). Next, the author applies two kernels to categorize data points of breast cancer. The whole point of this is to separate data in the most efficient way. In this manner, researchers can better predict events, such as injuries or diseases, and take quicker actions. This paper highlights the importance of SVM model in dealing with data-driven problems.

The Job That Calls My Name

One of the main goals of a (young) job seeker is to find a job that offers a valuable opportunity in their career and that also satisfies the professional curiosity. One of the most frequently visited labour market platforms for this purpose are job advertising portals. Browsing through job advertisements is a much more complex process than it may seem at first sight: numerous studies show that a job advertisement is usually the first encounter between the employer’s offer and the expectations of the potential candidate. The primary goal of recruitment communication is to attract all job seekers who match the description in the advertisement, however, discriminatory references and implicit cues referring to one gender may be unconsciously coded into language, which therefore distorts equal application opportunity. The aim of this literature review is to synthetise the emergence, functioning and social implications of implicit gender references in job advertisements. The article introduces the topic through six main sections, broken down into theoretical components. The introduction is followed by a discussion of the gender gap at both national as well as international level, the basic principles of recruitment communication, the main explanatory theories of organisational behaviour, the effects of implicit gender references on the perceiver, and lastly, a discussion of gender linguistics is touched upon.

Foresight and Historical Determinism in Islamic Contemplate

The research reviews the importance of studying foresight and historical determinism in Islamic thought and analyzing its developments in religious and historical contexts, as divine providence and historical determinism constitute fundamental aspects of Islamic thought, and it is believed that history and its development are affected by God’s intervention and the influence of divine factors, as God Almighty is the Creator and Master of everything. And it contributes directly to the course of historical events and human issues. Thus, Islamic thinkers believe that a correct understanding of history requires looking at the divine powers and wisdom behind the events, as well as an acknowledgment of predestination and how they affect the direction of the course of history. The research deals with the profound scientific benefits of this topic in directing... Human thinking towards a better future and drawing lessons from history. The approach followed for this research is to provide comprehensive explanations of forward-looking and deterministic theories, using the historical context as a framework for clarification.

Critical Considerations for Using Cultural Targeting and Tailoring in Health Communication Interventions

ABSTRACT One approach to addressing observed health disparities that is frequently discussed in the literature is adapting health messages to the cultural identities of groups who experience an undue burden of disease. The extant research on the cultural tailoring and targeting (CTT) of health messages generally indicates that such adaptations are effective. However, the empirical basis for this conclusion does not provide definitive evidence that CTT is always necessary nor demonstrate that culturally adapted messages are always more effective than more general message appeals. Despite extensive literature on CTT, important questions remain about the necessary components, methodology, and evaluation of CTT research. In this essay, we present a set of criteria for assessing the existing research base for CTT and ensuring that future CTT research is valid, replicable, rigorous, and robust. Key considerations include identifying when CTT is necessary, conducting rigorous formative research, using appropriate experimental designs, designing message interventions in a way that enables generalization, and evaluating mediators in order to build explanatory theories of CTT.

Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations: Scholarly Practice.

The authors emphasize the importance of nurses' interpersonal relations and incorporate a theoretical perspective that promotes an understanding of the multiple dilemmas that patients and families experience in their journey of improving health and well-being. A detailed explanation of Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations is provided, including the three phases involved in developing nurse-patient relationships, and the challenges associated with each phase are reviewed with a focus on interpersonal competencies. Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations promotes a scholarly practice dedicated to the wholeness, complexity, and context of interpersonal relationships.

Exploring entrepreneurial skills of DR Congolese refugee women through economic growth in Durban, South Africa

Refugee women entrepreneurship has been played a crucial role in economic development and poverty alleviation in both sending and receiving countries. Although their contribution to socioeconomic development in South Africa, they face various challenges including proper identity documents from the Department of Home Affairs, financial resources, and services to enter the labor market in SA. The purpose of this study is to explore the entrepreneurial skills of DR Congolese refugee women in Durban. This study used qualitative research methodology including both explanatory and descriptive theories during data collection. The study used in-depth interviews and questionnaires where ten Congolese refugee women informal traders between the age of 24 and 41 years were selected through snowball techniques from Congolese community in Durban. The results revealed that entrepreneurial activity has been considered as an approach of empowering refugee women and poverty alleviation in their receiving countries. The findings show that refugees are the most unlikely entrepreneurs as they lacked the resources to launch a new enterprise with no history of credit and lack of assets or security to bank loan. The study revealed the needs of UNHCR, NGOs and government’s support in terms of sponsoring refugees’ projects, especially business training and appropriate identity documents from the department of Home Affairs. The economic contributions of female refugee entrepreneurs from the Congo in South Africa could be substantial if supported by gender-responsive policies and the provision of formal identification documents, along with access to business training opportunities. This would enhance their well-being and contribute to the economic growth of Durban.

Explaining the Concept of Moral Resilience in Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Directed Content Analysis.

Moral resilience is an emerging concept that has not been fully acknowledged. The aim of this study is to explain lived experiences of moral resilience in intensive care units nurses. This is a qualitative study with a content analysis approach guided by the method of Elo and Kyngäs and based on the theoretical framework of Defilippis et al. Data were collected through 17 in-depth, individual, and semi-structured interviews with 17 nurses, who were selected by purposeful sampling. The results of the present study support the theory of Defilippis et al. while adding another category to it. Three categories of self-awareness, harmonized connection, and moral well-being, which are consistent with the result of Defilippis et al. were extracted deductively, while the category of moral agency was also extracted inductively from the data. The explanatory theory resulting from Defilippis et al.'s study can be used as a guide to cultivate and improve the moral resilience of nurses working in intensive care units. Moral resilience is fostered in nurses by nurturing and improving their capacities, such as self-awareness, self-efficacy, self-confidence, and self-reflection. These traits can help maintain and promote moral agency while establishing harmonized connections. Acquiring moral resilience skills can lead to positive outcomes and reduced moral distress.

The Mental Health of Sexual Minority Individuals: Five Explanatory Theories and Their Implications for Intervention and Future Research

Research on the disparity in common mental health problems borne by sexual minority individuals has entered a stage of increasing theoretical complexity. Indeed, such a substantial disparity is likely not determined by a singular cause and therefore warrants diverse etiological perspectives tested with increasingly rigorous methodologies. The research landscape is made even more complex by the constant and rapid shift in the ways in which sexual minority people understand and characterize their own identities and experiences. This review introduces readers to this complexity by summarizing the historical legacy of research on the sexual orientation disparity in mental health, describing five contemporary theoretical explanations for this disparity and their supporting evidence, and suggesting theoretically informed interventions for reducing this disparity. Last, we offer an agenda for future research to accurately model the complexity of the pathways and solutions to the disproportionately poorer mental health of sexual minority populations.

Predictors of word writing in Spanish and Arabic among 6- and 7-year-old children

This study analyses the impact of certain cognitive processes on the writing of words in languages with different orthographic consistency (Spanish and Arabic) in the first and second years of Primary Education. One hundred twenty-eight schoolchildren from Ecuador and 109 from Algiers participated in this study. All the participants were aged between 6 and 7 years old, came from the middle classes, and had no special educational needs. We evaluated all the participants for word writing, knowledge of letters, phonological awareness, rapid automatised naming (alphanumeric and non-alphanumeric), and phonological memory. We performed descriptive-exploratory analyses and bivariate and multivariate regressions for the writing of words in each language. The results show that most of the cognitive variables considered do not contribute equally to the explanation of word writing in both languages at 6 and 7 years of age. However, in each language, at these ages, similar variables contribute to the explanation of word writing. These results have important implications for educational practice, as well as the explanatory theory of writing acquisition.

Improving syngas yield and quality from biomass/coal co-gasification using cooperative game theory and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations

The co-gasification of waste biomass and low-quality coal to produce syngas as fuel is an effective and sustainable approach in the waste-to-energy paradigm. The modeling of this process is however complex and time-consuming. The data-driven machine learning (ML) approaches enhanced with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) are capable of solving this issue. Hence, in this study, five different ML techniques including Linear Regression (LR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost) were employed for the model-prediction. The ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, and operation setting data were employed for the control factors syngas yield and lower heating value (LHV) prediction. The prediction results showed that XGBoost was superior to other ML approaches with an R2 value of 0.9786, mean squared error (MSE) of 10.82, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 9.8% during model testing of the syngas yield model. In the case of the syngas LHV model an R2 value of 0.9992, MSE of 0.03, and MAPE of 0.83% was observed. XGBoost was superior for both syngas yield and LHV models. The analysis of feature importance and its quantification was conducted by Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) and Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME). SHAP and LIME approaches revealed that reaction temperature and biomass mixing ratio were the most important control factors for the syngas yield model.

Review of Foam with Novel CO2-Soluble Surfactants for Improved Mobility Control in Tight Oil Reservoirs.

CO2-soluble surfactant foam systems have gained significant attention for their potential to enhance oil recovery, particularly in tight oil reservoirs where conventional water-soluble surfactants face challenges such as poor injectability and high reservoir sensitivity. This review provides a comprehensive explanation of the basic theory of CO2-soluble surfactant foam, its mechanism in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and the classification and application of various CO2-soluble surfactants. The application of these surfactants in tight oil reservoirs, where low permeability and high water sensitivity limit traditional methods, is highlighted as a promising solution to improve CO2 mobility control and increase oil recovery. The mechanism of enhanced oil recovery by CO2-soluble surfactant foam involves the effective reduction of CO2 fluidity, the decrease in oil-gas flow ratio, and the stabilization of the displacement front. Foam plays a vital role in mitigating the issues of channeling and gravity separation often caused by simple CO2 injection. The reduction in gas fluidity can be attributed to the increase in apparent viscosity and trapped gas fraction. Future research should prioritize the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly CO2-soluble surfactants. It is essential to further explore the advantages and challenges associated with their practical applications in order to maximize their potential impact.

The impact and value of the Parkinson’s nurse specialist to people with Parkinson’s and their care partners: a grounded theory qualitative study

BackgroundWhere available, Parkinson’s Nurse Specialists (PNS) provide a range of care, support, guidance, and advocacy for people with Parkinson’s (PwP), and, where appropriate, their care partners (CP). Parkinson’s is a complex and progressive condition. Consequently, evaluating health outcomes is not a reliable method to understand the value and impact of PNS. Previous research has identified PNS can improve the subjective well-being of PwP in the community, also that barriers to care include heavy caseloads and a lack of time. Yet little is known about the value of the role of the PNS, particularly about the impact of pharmacological management and review. This research aims to close this research gap by providing explanatory theories of the impact and value of PNS to PwP, their CP, and other professionals.MethodsA social constructivist grounded theory approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three groups, PNS, PwP, and CP. Interviews were analysed using NVivo for coding and categorising and Word for memo-writing. Data was analysed inductively and iteratively to identify contexts, social processes, actions, and behaviours, before final emergent theories were identified.Results46 semi-structured interviews (PNS 18, PwP 19, CP 9) led to four data categories and 13 sub-categories that delineated PNS value. (1) Expert Counsel; provision of emotional support, education, and lifestyle guidance; CP inclusion; provision from diagnosis; and across all stages of Parkinson’s. (2) Conduit of Care; signposting, referral, and connection to PwP, CP, others; PNS barriers and facilitators; (3) Team/Partnership; continuity and partnership, ‘working together’; (4) Pharmacological Support, PNS prescribing; concordance; speed of treatment. Where PNS were accessible they could offer personalised support and partnership, so providing person-centred care that improves health and well-being.ConclusionWhere a PNS is accessible due to service availability and manageable caseloads, to provide person-centred care, they deliver several benefits to PwP and CP which improve health and perceived well-being. Where PNS are not available, PwP and CP often struggle to manage their Parkinson’s with negative impacts on health and well-being.

Semantic Foundation and Evolution Mechanism of the “好不X” (haobu X) Structure

In Chinese, the “好不X” (haobu X) structure expresses three types of meanings (negation, affirmation, and both affirmation-negation), where X exhibits differences in semantic symmetry. So far, no systematic explanatory theory has been proposed to account for these differences. Therefore, this paper presents and argues for an explanatory hypothesis that progresses through four stages: “很不X” (henbu X) => “好不X” (haobu X) (negation) => [ironic use] “好不X” (haobu X) (affirmation) => expansion and obstruction of affirmative “好不” (haobu). Specifically, (1) the basis of the negation “好不X” (haobu X) is attributed to “很不X” (henbu X), and the semantic asymmetry of X (excluding negative words) is explained using politeness principles, irony, and the semantic valence of negation results; (2) the ironic use of the negation “好不X” (haobu X) gives rise to the affirmation “好不X” (haobu X); (3) the grammaticalization and expansion of the positive meaning of “好不” (haobu) extend to X, which cannot appear in the negative meaning “好不__” structure (including words with opposite meanings and high polarity positive words). This explains the semantic symmetry of X in the positive meaning “好不X” (haobu X) structure; (4) when the affirmation “好不” (haobu) expands to the negation “好不X” (haobu X), it encounters both obstacles (X includes neutral and some positive words) and compatibility (X is some other positive words), thus explaining the semantic asymmetry of X in the affirmation-negation “好不X” (haobu X) (i.e., X is positive words).

Evidence of apoptosis as an early event leading to cyclophosphamide-induced primordial follicle depletion in a prepubertal mouse model.

The mechanisms leading to ovarian primordial follicle depletion following gonadotoxic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and other cytotoxic drugs are currently understood through two main explanatory theories: apoptosis and over-activation. Discrepancies between the findings of different studies investigating these mechanisms do not allow to reach a firm conclusion. The heterogeneity of cell types in ovaries and their different degrees of sensitivity to damage, cell-cell interactions, periodical follicle profile differences, model age-dependent differences, and differences of exposure durations of tested drugs may partially explain the discrepancies among studies. This study used intact prepubertal mice ovaries in culture as study model, in which most follicles are primordial follicles. Histological and transcriptional analyses of ovaries exposed to the active metabolite of cyclophosphamide 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) were carried out via a time-course experiment at 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. 4-HC treated ovaries showed a significant decrease in primordial follicle density at 24 h, along with active DNA damage (TUNEL) and overexpressed apoptosis signals (cleaved-poly ADP ribose polymerase in immunohistochemistry and western blotting). Meanwhile 4-HC treatment significantly up-regulated H2ax, Casp 6, Casp 8, Noxa, and Bax in ovaries, and up-regulated Puma in primordial follicles (FISH). Our results indicated that cyclophosphamide-induced acute ovarian primordial follicle depletion was mainly related to apoptotic pathways. No evidence of follicle activation was found, neither through changes in the expression of related genes to follicle activation nor in the density of growing follicles. Further validation at protein level in 4-HC-treated prepubertal mice ovaries at 24 h confirmed these observations.

(Conceptual) explanations in logic

Abstract To explain phenomena in the world is a central human activity and one of the main goals of rational inquiry. There are several types of explanation: one can explain by drawing an analogy, as one can explain by dwelling on the causes (see e.g. see [Woodward (2004, Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation. Oxford University Press, Oxford)]. Amongst these different kinds of explanation, in the last decade, philosophers have become receptive to those explanations that explain by providing the reasons (or the grounds) why a statement is true; these explanations are often called conceptual explanations (e.g. see [Betti (2010, Explanation in metaphysics and Bolzano's theory of ground and consequence. Logique et analyse, 211:281316)]). The main aim of the paper is to propose a logical account of conceptual explanations. We will do so by using the resources of proof theory, in particular sequent rules analogous to deep inferences ([e.g. see Brunnler (2004, Deep Inference and Symmetry in Classical Proofs. Logoc Verlag)]). The results we provide not only shed light on conceptual explanations themselves, but also on the role that logic and logical tools might play in the burgeoning field of inquiry concerning explanations. Indeed, we conclude the paper by underlining interesting links between the present research and some other existing works on explanations and logic that have arise in recent years, e.g. see [Arieli et al. (2022, Explainable logic-based argumentation. Computational Models of Argument, 353:3243); Darwiche and Hirth (2023, On the (complete) reasons behind decisions. Journal of Logic Language and Information, 32:6388); Piazza, Pulcini, and Sabatini (2023, Abduction as deductive saturation: a proof-theoretic inquiry. Journal of Philosophical Logic, 52:15751602)]. For here it is for the empirical scientist to know the fact and for the mathematical to know the reason why (our emphasis) [Aristotle (1993, Posterior Analytics. Oxford University Press, Oxford)].

Developing an initial explanatory theory for Partnering for Change using realist evaluation.

Partnering for Change (P4C) is an innovative practice model for school-based occupational therapy developed in Canada and informed by a program of research spanning nearly two decades. National and international interest in P4C necessitated development of an explanatory theory to guide implementation in varied contexts. The purpose of this study is to document the process of theory development and to provide an overview of the initial P4C explanatory theory. Realist evaluation was used to construct an initial explanatory theory of P4C drawing on P4C developers' conceptualisations of the model, document analysis, and analysis of transcripts from interviews and focus groups. No consumers were involved in the study design or analysis. Four sets of premises expressed as context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOCs) comprise the initial explanatory theory of P4C. An abstracted summary of these four sets along with contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes central to the P4C initial explanatory theory is presented. An exemplar CMOC is shared to illustrate how theoretical premises are developed and expressed using realist evaluation. This study advances knowledge regarding the hypothesised core elements of P4C and provides an example of using realist evaluation to advance knowledge in occupational therapy. Preliminary implications for clinical practice are discussed. Partnering for Change (P4C) is a way of providing occupational therapy services in schools that helps all children to learn and participate successfully. P4C was created in Ontario, Canada, and has been researched for almost 20 years. People in different parts of Canada and other countries are interested in trying P4C. As the researchers who created P4C, we think there is a need to explain how it works so it can be used in different places. This study explains how we created a theory to describe P4C. To develop this theory, we used a method called realist evaluation that would help us explain how, why, and in what situations P4C works best. To do this, we analysed documents and transcripts of interviews and focus groups. Our findings are organised into four main ideas, each explained in terms of contexts (the situations), mechanisms (how and why P4C works), and outcomes (the impacts of P4C). One detailed example is given to show how these ideas were formed and work together. In conclusion, our study helps us understand the key parts of P4C and shows how realist evaluation can be used to improve knowledge in occupational therapy. The study also suggests some early ideas on how P4C can be used in practice.

How Political Connections and Financial Constraints Affect Total Asset Growth Anomaly Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Our research addresses the gap in investigating how political connections and financial constraints affect asset growth anomalies before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our sample includes listed non-financial firms in the Vietnam stock market from 2008 to December 2020. We employ Fama and MacBeth regressions and portfolio sorting methodology to analyze a sample with 34,441 monthly observations, including 478 firms. Our findings indicate a negative relationship between asset growth and subsequent stock returns in all periods. While the asset growth anomaly existed in the Vietnam stock market before the pandemic, it disappeared during the pandemic. The average raw return difference between stocks in the highest and lowest asset growth terciles was −0.26% per month before the pandemic. Our robustness tests show that asset growth anomaly exists in firms with political connections during the pandemic. In addition, the asset growth anomaly only persists in larger firms before the pandemic. Our findings support agency and pecking order theory, behavior, and rational explanations. Finally, this study contributes practical implications for managers and individual investors to prevent adverse impacts of asset growth anomalies.

Theories of consciousness: A concise overview

Consciousness or conscious experience is a mental phenomenon that is familiar to all of us, but the way in which it is produced escapes us to a large extent. Each person has a vague idea of what it means to be conscious, but consciousness is rather hard to define, albeit easy to identify. It is that function of the brain that makes us conscious of external or internal stimuli and of our thoughts regarding these subjective experiences. Conscious experience is a first-person perspective of mental states and events tracking as they unfold. It includes mental phenomena such as a perception, emotion, memory, idea, continuous temporal sequence of events. A mental process and its adjoining neurophysiological phenomena represent two aspects of the same event. We have direct access to the mental aspect, while we can observe the neurophysiological aspect only when we study the event as a biological process. The psychological study of consciousness describes the special properties of this brain function, its origin and utility in the global economy of an animal organism. The neurobiological study aims to find the neural correlates of consciousness, aims to establish causal relations between the neural phenomena and the different conscious states. Lastly, the formulation of an explanatory theory can provide a satisfactory understanding of the phenomenon. This review aims to bring some clarification in the field of consciousness, selecting the hypotheses which mostly fulfill the requirements, in order to be confirmed as explanatory theories. A valuable test for confirming an explanatory hypothesis is its predictive power. Using this criterion we have evaluated comparatively, some of the proposed explaining hypotheses.

Human-Data Interaction as a critical enabler of Electronic Performance Monitoring at construction sites

Human-Data Interaction (HDI) revolves around how humans generate, process, and utilise data. HDI plays a crucial role in evaluating data collection and use in the context of the construction industry, considering the impact on stakeholders such as site managers and labourers. One significant application of HDI is in on-site Electronic Performance Monitoring (EPM), which aims to leverage workplace innovations to enhance productivity, safety, and health. However, the integration and implications of HDI and EPM lack comprehensive understanding. This research seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by presenting a human-data perspective on sensored construction sites, emphasising the challenges and opportunities for driving innovative EPM initiatives. Through a combination of literature review, surveys with HDI experts, and the authors' perspectives and abduction, conceptual frameworks are developed that cluster HDI and EPM. The study's implications are multifaceted, impacting both theoretical understanding and practical applications. The findings highlight the key actors and the data they generate and manipulate across different platforms during EPM deployment. Through the lens of explanatory theories, sociomateriality, and work sociology, the research contributes to understanding the fragmented nature of HDI and EPM as a managerial issue embedded in the work environment. It sheds light on the interactions of actors using digital EPM devices and relevant data streams influenced by the limited agency of specific stakeholders, such as labourers, and the potential neglect of factors related to their well-being. This research distinguishes itself by focusing on the less explored intersection of HDI and EPM in the construction industry. It offers a novel perspective by considering the sensored environment of construction sites as a venue for analysing human-data interactions.